Kaua‘i’s Bethany Hamilton and Leila Hurst found themselves surfing against each other in the semifinals of the Billabong Association of Surfing Professionals World Junior Championships in North Narrabee, Australia, late Monday. After both Hamilton and Hurst won their quarterfinal heats
Kaua‘i’s Bethany Hamilton and Leila Hurst found themselves surfing against each other in the semifinals of the Billabong Association of Surfing Professionals World Junior Championships in North Narrabee, Australia, late Monday.
After both Hamilton and Hurst won their quarterfinal heats — Hamilton (14.83) defeated Australia’s Laura Enever (12.77) and Hurst (11.17) defeated Brazil’s Diana Cristina (9.23) — the two girls found themselves in the same semifinal heat for a little friendly competition.
Hurst held the lead for 24 minutes of the 25-minute heat, said Hurst’s father Rick. But Hamilton caught a wave in the final seconds and earned just what she needed to beat Hurst 11.50 to 10.07.
Hurst then shared the third-place finish with Courtney Conlogue of the United States.
“This year will be a big year doing all the ASP Pro Junior events and some ASP WQS events,” Hurst said. “I just got knocked in the last minutes when Bethany (Hamilton) got a 6, but it’s a great start to the year. This is my best result here at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships after three years.”
Hamilton then went on to finish second to France’s Pauline Ado in the world junior finals. Ado made history when she became the first non-Australian female to claim the undisputed ASP Junior World Title.
“I’m speechless,” Ado said. “I am so stoked. This is a dream come true. I can’t believe that I won. When I woke up this morning, I never imagined that this would happen.”
While her opponent Hamilton exhibited patience throughout the day, Ado wasted no time in busying herself on both the lefts and rights in the final, and although the lead flipped back and forth, it was the young Frenchwoman who sealed the deal with a solid 13.43 out of a possible 20.
“I didn’t watch Bethany on her last wave, but I could hear the crowd and the commentators in the background,” Ado said. “I thought she had won, but luckily for me, it wasn’t the case.”
Ado now joins the prestigious ranks of past ASP World Junior Champion Austalians Jessi Miley-Dyer, Nicola Atherton, and Sally Fitzgibbons — all three past champions qualifying for the prestigious ASP Women’s World Tour within one season of claiming the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
“I have so much confidence now going into 2009,” Ado said. “I really want to do well in the ASP WQS and hopefully qualify for the ASP Women’s World Tour, but for now, I’m just stoked to be ASP World Junior Champion.”
In addition to being crowned ASP World Junior Champion, Ado will also receive a guaranteed seed into the second-to-last seeded round of all ASP WQS events in 2009, giving the young natural-footer a great advantage as she vies for a position on the elite ASP Women’s World Tour in 2010.
Hamilton is satisfied with her finish.
“I’m really happy with my performance at this event,” Hamilton said. “To make the final is really good for me. I haven’t had a good result in a while so hopefully this will give me some confidence for the rest of the year. I think my nerves got the better of me in the final. I should’ve made a couple of turns where I fell. I’m kind of bummed about that last wave, but I guess that’s surfing.”
